SHIP STATS
>> GUESTS: 884
>> CREW: 470
>> START: Athens
>> NEXT: Sri Lanka
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VASCO: The luxury cruise liner season 2018-19 began at the Mormugao Port with the arrival of the first cruise liner MV Viking Orion at the cruise berth terminal on Monday.
The luxury cruise liner arrived from Mumbai port and was on its maiden visit to Goa. The cruise liner arrived with 884 foreign guests and 470 crew members to the state from Mumbai port via Muscat. The cruise liner had earlier commenced the cruise circuit from Athens.
With the arrival of the first cruise liner, the luxury cruise season on the tourism circuit of Goa has begun for the year 2018-19 the Mormugao Port expects to host around 39 foreign luxury cruise liners at its cruise berth terminal during this season.
MPT Chairman (in-charge) G P Rai visited the cruise ship at the cruise berth terminal along with the heads of Department, Dy Commandant CISF and extended a warm welcome to the Master Capt. Rune Lockling.
Rai impressed upon the ship's master that Goa is a much favoured tourist destination for cruise passengers on the west coast of India due to its rich cultural heritage, pristine beaches, heritage monuments and world famous cuisine which blends the east and west cultures.
He also reminded the master on the visit of their sister cruise ship MV Viking Sun to Mormugao Port during the last cruise tourism season on April 6.
The master of the visiting cruise liner was all praise for the marine officers of the Mormugao Port for smoothly piloting and bringing the cruise ship alongside the cruise terminal berth on schedule.
He was impressed with the infrastructure facilities to handle big cruise ships at MPT and complimented the chairman (i/c) and officers for the clean and imposing pier.
He was happy with his ship’s maiden visit to Goa port and expressed the desire to visit Goa again in future. The master of the cruise liner and the MPT chairman (i/c) later exchanged commemorative plaques as a gesture of goodwill and friendship.
The customs and immigration and the CISF facilitated the smooth transition of the first cruise ship and guests on board.
The visiting guests and crew availed the facilities provided by local tour operators to explore the beaches and other tourists spots in Goa. The visiting guests were immediately taken for sight-seeing tours across Goa in luxury coaches and taxis by the travel agents.
The vessel was scheduled to sail on its onward voyage to Colombo, Sri Lanka in the evening.
